The Beautiful: The Theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar

I really didn’t know much about who Hans Urs von Balthasar was until I came across this video from Fr. Barron. I can’t help it but to learn more about this great 20th theologian of the Catholic Church in the near future.

Apart from the power of beauty in evangelization (which is a theme that I love) what I found most interesting about this video is Fr. Barron observation about Fr. Balthasar’s Christology and anthropology, which is centered on the very biblical idea that we don’t know our identity unless we know our mission.

What is our vocation? What is it that we are called to be? I think that our vocation is simply a tool that God uses to allow us to pour back the love that he has filled our hearts with, for the benefit and the building up of His Body. That is why it is so important to really listen to the movement in our hearts and follow that passion because we can truly change the world.

As St. Catherine of Sienna said:

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

Moreover, just as we can find our identity in our mission (as Abraham, Israel, Peter and Paul did), it also shows us the road towards sainthood. After all, as Leon Bloy once said:

“The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint.”

All things work together for good Caleb to those who Love The Lord and He has prepared His good Works for us to do in advance and He will also equip us and empower us to do them and when we do so willingly and in Love, yes as you shared they are all about Love, we will know great inner Joy in what we do and we will be rewarded too.